For our purposes as Christians we could just say marriage. This subject has bothered me for a long time. Let me explain. Most of our assemblies are small churches and some far distant from others. As well we have (speaking of the faith message) people and disciples (of Jesus) scattered around by themselves wanting to have a mate but not able to find one. Or not part of a church big enough to find one. Or part of a small church and no other church close by.

We have others (again speaking of the faith message) who are celibate because of divorce. Uncomfortable remarrying because of the biblical view of remarriage (for the most part) being adultery. Or uncomfortable enough they are hesitant to go ahead.

What are these people supposed to do? Men and women with normal appetites and desires for life fellowship friendship physical needs desire to have a family etc. I'm not trying to be critical but I've heard ministers speak to the issue and it just seems to get passed over lightly.

I of course am married and don't have the problem but I know some close to me who do and I think would like to be rid of the problem. There is a solution!!!!

1 Cor.7/7-9 A gift of celibacy. Paul had it and apparently thought it would be good for everyone to have it.

Some time ago the Lord showed me a gift of celibacy. It is a supernatural gift that takes away all the normal needs God created us with and are met in marriage. It is a marvelous gift. I saw the gift inside a person. All the normal needs just going in a circle and being met inside the person themself. It was marvelous. A gift well worth having. The person was completely content just being alone. Just happy on their own with no sexual needs and not lonely. It is a marvelous gift.

If that is you . . .
- unmarried and no prospects for a mate.
- Uncomfortable with remarriage whether its your fault or not
- just simply single and don't want to marry but have all these feelings and needs

Then the answer is to seriously seek the Lord for a gift of celibacy. Paul thought it was well worth having and everyone should be like him. I think it is a marvelous gift and if you need it ask for it. And keep on asking (seeking praying) until you get it

If that is you . . .
- unmarried and no prospects for a mate.
- Uncomfortable with remarriage whether its your fault or not
- just simply single and don't want to marry but have all these feelings and needs

Then the answer is to seriously seek the Lord for a gift of celibacy. Paul thought it was well worth having and everyone should be like him. I think it is a marvelous gift and if you need it ask for it. And keep on asking (seeking praying) until you get it

It certainly has William, but yet no comments...lol

I wrote a long reply right after Mark posted it but something went haywire and I lost it...Oh well!

Unlike Mark I have lived this for 39 1/2 years (that is 14,476 days, but who's counting? lol) I prayed about it many, many times over years and as of today The Lord hasn't 'given' me the gift of celibacy. In reading all the scriptures pertaining to this subject and praying for wisdom to understand I am personally convinced that it is a gift that He chooses to give for His purposes and not something we can claim as ours through faith. I may be wrong and if I am then the problem's with me.

I believe God gave Paul that gift because of the call upon his life and what he was going to have to endure for the Gospels sake; it would have been extremely hard on a wife and children to go through the heartache of witnessing Paul's many trials, tribulations, and persecutions.

Anyway, my two cents...condensed version.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

In reading all the scriptures pertaining to this subject and praying for wisdom to understand I am personally convinced that it is a gift that He chooses to give for His purposes and not something we can claim as ours through faith.

How about a compromise and instead of claiming it --just ask for it? You can always add "if it be thy will..."

Okay, sorry for making light of a situation that is not a laughing matter. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to have endured for that length of time. You have my admiration.

You may have already stated your position, and pardon me for forgetting it you have, but do you believe that you are released from your first marriage? (Also, feel free to ignore, or even delete this, if that isn't something you want to answer.)

Another thing I just thought of... if you don't feel comfortable in praying, what would you think about Mark and me agreeing (Matt.18:19) together on this matter. (We could either pray for you a wife, or the gift...whichever you'd prefer!)

How about a compromise and instead of claiming it --just ask for it? You can always add "if it be thy will..."

Okay, sorry for making light of a situation that is not a laughing matter. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to have endured for that length of time. You have my admiration.

LOL. Hey, laughing does the heart good...

Seriously though, I do think I could marry again with God's blessings, the divorce wasn't my doings or desire. It has just taken me a long, long time to come to that position.

So if I ask you and Mark to agree for a wife or the gift of celibacy for me, do I get to give some guidelines or wish list for the missus? Just kidding!

Probably at this stage in life I'll just finish my course single, too much baggage and too set in my ways and habits to start over. But I've learned to never say never...So for now I would seek celibacy without the mental battles and fleshly desires.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

How about a compromise and instead of claiming it --just ask for it? You can always add "if it be thy will..."

Okay, sorry for making light of a situation that is not a laughing matter. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to have endured for that length of time. You have my admiration.

LOL. Hey, laughing does the heart good...

Seriously though, I do think I could marry again with God's blessings, the divorce wasn't my doings or desire. It has just taken me a long, long time to come to that position.

So if I ask you and Mark to agree for a wife or the gift of celibacy for me, do I get to give some guidelines or wish list for the missus? Just kidding!

Probably at this stage in life I'll just finish my course single, too much baggage and too set in my ways and habits to start over. But I've learned to never say never...So for now I would seek celibacy without the mental battles and fleshly desires.

Well, we could pray for both but that might not be fair to the young maiden!

But now that I know: 1. You don't have the gift and 2. You would have no problems with re-marrying... I've gotten all the wisdom I need according to James 1 to proceed boldly in my prayer for you!

I was just wondering how's that search going? You know, the one for 'my' wife? I know that's what ya'll are focusing your prayers on cause the celibacy gift hasn't shown up yet.

If the the list of those applying is too long just narrow it down to................loves God; willing to move to Alabama; gives good back rubs; Auburn football fan; sense of humor. I'll be looking for that list. lol

Jesus loves me this I know, for The Bible tells me so!!!

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Well, she would also need to be humble if she's going to move to Alabama and be an Auburn fan too!

Okay, enough of that... you just need a few good pickup lines. Here's a good one for the elderly: (You walk into a bar and see an interesting lady over at a table...) go up and ask "Do I come here often?"

We have others (again speaking of the faith message) who are celibate because of divorce. Uncomfortable remarrying because of the biblical view of remarriage (for the most part) being adultery. Or uncomfortable enough they are hesitant to go ahead.

What are these people supposed to do? - Uncomfortable with remarriage whether its your fault or not
- just simply single and don't want to marry but have all these feelings and needs

Then the answer is to seriously seek the Lord for a gift of celibacy. Paul thought it was well worth having and everyone should be like him. I think it is a marvelous gift and if you need it ask for it. And keep on asking (seeking praying) until you get it

Interesting topic. I had several friends in the body who never married, I don't know if they even had the desire to marry.

As for the divorce/remarriage fiasco that happened in the body, I don't think anyone even looked in the Bible and what took place.

Jesus when he asked the woman at the well to go get your husband, she said I have no husband. Jesus said:
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet

Well she had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband. I don't see Jesus telling her she needed to claim back her first husband by faith. In fact He continued to minister to her concerning the Kingdom.

The attitude in our local assembly was ugly to say the least. People were vehement with legislating this doctrine to those who did not comply. Jesus condemned the Pharisees, lawyers, and scribes who came with their religious commandments of men to enforce on everyone. They hated it when Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath.

Paul said its better to marry then to burn.

It's a very horrible place to find oneself in given the fact people have to deal with their flesh.

But on the other hand we have the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said that one who remarries a divorced person is living in adultery.

But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

That is not an easy thing to deal with when a person is divorced, unless the one they were married to was unfaithful. But I think being ugly and belligerent towards people is not Christ like and is probably worse in God's eyes.

The only way I could seeing being celibate and dealing with the flesh is to make ones self a Eunuch, which doesn't sound like an appealing option.

Mans fall into sin has made this world full of sorrow and sadness. Sometimes I can't wait for this life to be over, then I think God knows what He is doing and I know it will be worth it all when that day arrives. He said, with long life will I satisfy you and show you My salvation. It's all a learning process.